Beauty

[Campion]

I use an Argan Self-Tanning Moisturizer. It takes a bit longer, but you don't get the dark-light streakiness as much because the color builds up--and it makes your skin glow. You still should exfoliate your arms and legs with a nylon puff before you use it. I shower and use the puff with shower gel and then dry off and apply it. It blends in well, being a moisturizer. You do also have to wash hands afterwards as it will stain in between your fingers.

[Cookie06]

On 6/2/2014 Andreatoo said:

On 6/2/2014 Cookie06 said:

Sounds to me that each product works differently for each of us. I have used Tan Towels for years. There is no odor that I can detect. However, the Tan Towel Plus is pretty dark if you are starting out pale, it is a bit much. Easy to apply and lasts quite a while. No matter which product I use it seems that the hardest part to get natural looking is around the ankles and onto the feet???? Any suggestions for that area???

I've heard moisturizer helps.

Thanks Andreatoo! So do I just use moisturizer on top of the tan towel treatment?? or under???

[sun8shine]

On 6/2/2014 Funloving said:

I believe due to our individual body chemistry & skin-tone, your mileage may vary.. there's no one size fits all ST. I happen to think Tarte is one of the superior prestige brand STs for me- as a slightly neutral to olive medium skin tone, while someone with very fair pink under toned skin maybe better suited for TanTowels or Jergens Natural Glow Gradual Self Tanner.

Truly it takes some trial and error, too.

sun8shine - How would you describe your skin tone? Do you have pink, yellow, neutral or olive undertones?... Are you fair, light or medium? All of these things need to be factored, IMO.

Hi Funloving,

I have skin that is "light" usually the second fairest and I have a neutral/cool tone. (foundation wise - warm toned terrible, neutral looks good, pink toned terrible)

My skin will tan naturally in the sun (or light burn once than tan) and my tan color is a coppery brown when I get one naturally.

Thanks so much for all of the advice from everyone! It is so good to hear what works for you.

[sun8shine]

On 6/2/2014 Colonel Meow said:

On 6/2/2014 grandma petes said: I've been using St. Tropez self tanner for a few years now and it's my favorite. Trust me, I've tried many. I get compliments everyday on how great my "tan" looks and people are always surprised when I tell them it's "tan in a can". It dries quickly and there is no smell. Color lasts a couple of days, but I usually apply every other day. It's really a fantastic self-tanner.

I agree. I've used St. Tropez with great results. I've recently gotten out of the habit of applying self-tanner, but this thread has reminded me of how good I look with a little faux-glow. I'll pull out my mega-bottle of St Tropez tonight!

Sounds like fun Grandma petes

[Dakotah]

I recommend Tarte. I used to use Tan Towels, but tried Tarte When it was the TSV. I think it gives a more natural looking Tan. Also, it lasts longer on my skin.

[ChynnaBlue]

Do you want this for your whole body, your face, just your legs?

I recently tried many tanner options for a wedding I was just in where I had to wear a strapless dress. I have very fair skin and am paranoid about being orange or streaky. For two weeks I had spotty points all over my arm and stomach where I swatched different tanners to check application and color.

I tried the Tarte Brazilliance and the Bare Minerals Faux Tan. Both had beautiful color that were very different from each other, but still looked natural. I swatched both the Bare Minerals and the Tarte and they took me from white to bronzed in 8 hours, but I felt like it was too dramatic for me. Since I needed to do my back for a strapless dress, I decided against both of those because the color was too dramatic and I was worried that any missed parts on my back would be very obvious. If I just wanted to do my legs and arms for summer, I think those would have been great options. the Tarte Brazilliance smelled the best.

I love the Tarte Maracuja bronzer for my face. That gives me a lovely glow overnight and doesn't streak or smell bad. I'll still use that even after the wedding is over. I also tried the Clarins facial bronzer drops that you add to your own moisturizer. They gave great color and you could control how many drops you use and the color you get, but it clogged my pores and I broke out both times I tried it.

The Vita Liberata was great because it had an option for fair skin. That gave me a great glow without taking me from zero to 60 at one go. The color was lovely and natural.

I ended up going with a St. Tropez gradual tanner body lotion in a Light-Medium shade. I had to use it 5 nights in a row to get a good color and did have a few streaks (there's no guide tint to show where you've placed it), but they were easy to even out with the next application. Because I was worried about my back, that worked well for me, but I think that next time I would go with one of the other options for their richer colors. The St Tropez body lotion also took forever to absorb and dry and I didn't like the scent.

If I didn't have to use my back, I'd have gone with any of the others - Tarte, Bare Minerals, or Vita Liberata.

I also tried the Jergens lotion in Dark and I felt like the color was too yellow-based for me. It was easy to apply and didn't get streaky, but I didn't like the final color compared to any of the others. I tried the Jergens mousse and it worked faster than the Jergens lotion, but I felt like it didn't blend as easily and was easy to get streaks with. I'd recommend the lotion over the mousse.

Hope that helps!

[sherrisuzanne]

Vita Liberata is AMAZING and you can get it cheaper at Sephora.........I have very light fair skin that freckles but I use the dark and it is beautiful!

[cody2]

On 6/2/2014 boomerchick said: Suave Visible Glow. $5 at drugstores & does not turn orange! I have not had success w/any self tanner & I have purchased mostly expensive brands. Suave claims it rivals St Tropez. I can't attest to that but I am very pleased w/it.

I am loving this one too!

[sun8shine]

Thanks everyone this is great advice. I was going to do my body basically and figure out the face. ( Just use bronzer and darker foundation to match) or go for a facial product.

I tried the jergens (got a sample size) and it was OK on the arms, but it was too orange on the legs (which are paler than my arms).

Thanks again everyone - it is so good to hear what you think!

[Funloving]

sun8shine- Sounds like with your skintone and the fact you tan pretty easily, something like Jergens isn't going to give you the desired color. Tan Towels are pretty subtle too, but it does provide color. For a true brown bronze color you have several options; St. Tropez, Tarte, Sun Labs, Vita Liberata, Paula's Choice foam, etc.

I think the key is taking it slow, not slathering on too much at once, putting moisturizer on areas like around heals and toes that seem to gather ST... and of course, exfoliate well before hand. I like to moisturize before and ST at night.. then moisturize again in the morning.

Banana Boat Deep Dark is a drugstore brand that gives results of much pricier brands, IMO. For me it's almost fool proof... but I've had a hard time finding it this year. Walgreens, CVS and most drugstores carry it. I think large Walmarts have it too. The problem is it sells out quickly.